The National Incident Management System: Top Ten
Questions
Fiscal Year 2010 Initial Grantee Meeting December 8 – 9, 2010, Santa Monica, California
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) 550 12th Street, S.W., 10th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20202
Larry Borland, Chief of Security, Academy School District (CO)
Steven McElroy, Director of Security, Columbus City Schools (OH)
OSDFS Staff
2
Key Question 1
What is NIMS and why do we need it?
3
Key Question 1
NIMS is a comprehensive, national approach to incident management that is applicable at all jurisdictional levels and across functional disciplines. It is intended to: Be applicable across a full spectrum of
potential incidents, hazards, and impacts, regardless of size, location or complexity.
Improve coordination and cooperation. Provide a common standard for overall
incident management.
4
Key Question 1
NIMS lays the groundwork for efficient and effective responses, from a single agency fire response to a multiagency, multijurisdictional natural disaster or terrorism response.
NIMS provides commonality in preparedness and response efforts that allow diverse entities to readily integrate during an incident.
NIMS Components
The NIMS structure features five integrated components: 1. Preparedness; 2. Communications and Information
Management; 3. Resource Management; 4. Command and Management; 5. Ongoing Management and Maintenance
Supporting Technology and NIMS Integration Center.
5
6
Key Question 2
What are the NIMS requirements that I need to implement under my grant?
7
Key Question 2
HSPD–5 “Management of Domestic Incidents”
FY 2010 REMS grantees are required to implement the NIMS requirements for local governments as these were the published requirements during the application period
OSDFS provides customized compliance objectives and guidance for schools
8
Key Question 2
Compliance objectives address the five NIMS components:1. Adoption2. Preparedness
Planning Training Exercise
3. Communications and Information Management4. Resource Management5. Command and Management
9
Key Question 2
Compliance objectives: 1. Adoption
Adopt NIMS at the district level Designate a single point of contact to coordinate
NIMS implementation Ensure that Federal preparedness awards
support NIMS
2a. Preparedness: Planning Develop, implement, and refine plans to
incorporate NIMS and reflect the National Response Framework (NRF).
Participate in mutual aid agreements.
10
Key Question 2
Compliance objectives (cont.):2b. Preparedness: Training
IS-700.a NIMS, An Introduction IS-800.b National Response Framework IS-100.SCa Introduction of ICS for Schools IS-200.a ICS for Single Resources and Initial
Action Incidents ICS-300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents ICS-400 Advanced Incident Command
(Recommended) G-4022 Incident Command System (ICS)
Overview for Executive/Senior Officials
11
Key Question 2
Compliance objectives (cont.):2c. Preparedness: Exercise
Incorporate NIMS into exercises Plan for/and or participate in a multi-agency
exercise Incorporate lessons learned into emergency
management plans3. Communications and Information Management
Apply common and consistent terminology, including plain language
Utilize systems to present consistent and accurate information
12
Key Question 2
Compliance objectives (cont.):4. Resource Management
Identify/inventory response assets Ensure relevant and applicable
interoperability standards are used in acquisition programs
Use response asset inventory for mutual aid requests
Develop a system to credential emergency personnel to ensure proper authorization and access to an incident
13
Key Question 2
Compliance objectives (cont.):5. Command and Management
Institutionalize ICS for all emergency incidents and pre-planned school events
Coordinate and support the use of integrated Multi-agency Coordination System, or MACs
Establish a public information system Ensure that public information officers can
gather, verify, and coordinate information
14
Key Question 3
Who should take the required NIMS courses?
15
Key Question 3
Key personnel must take the NIMS training courses
Schools should identify key personnel to receive training based on their roles and responsibilities 1. Executive Leaders,2. General Personnel, 3. Critical Personnel, and 4. Leadership.
Executive Leaders
Must be familiar with the comprehensive systems supporting emergency management, even though they may not have a designated role in the incident command system.
Are often responsible for making financial, administrative, and managerial decisions supporting the school or IHE emergency management program and will likely have very high-level responsibilities before and after an incident, as opposed to command responsibilities in the field during an actual incident response.
Executive Leaders should take the following two courses: G-4022 Incident Command System (ICS) Overview for
Executive/Senior Officials IS-700 NIMS, An Introduction
16
General Personnel
Personnel with any role in emergency preparedness, incident management, or response such as faculty and educators, school resource officers, counselors, and bus drivers.
General personnel should complete IS-100.SCa An Introduction to ICS IS-700.a NIMS, An Introduction
17
Critical Personnel
Incident Commander, command staff, general staff, or member of another key campus emergency management team. Command staff may include public information
officer, safety officer, or liaison officer. General staff may include staff serving on the
operations, planning, logistics, or finance/administration branches.
18
Critical Personnel (cont.)
Critical personnel should complete IS-100.SCa An Introduction to ICS IS-700.a NIMS, An Introduction IS-800.b National Response Framework, An
Introduction IS-200.a ICS for Single Resources and Initial
Action Incidents
19
Leadership
Personnel with a leadership role and are typically obligated to: command and manage during incident
response in the absence of traditional incident response personnel
20
Leadership Personnel (cont.)
Leadership personnel should complete: IS-100.SCa An Introduction to ICS IS-700.a NIMS, An Introduction IS-800.b National Response Framework, An
Introduction IS-200.a ICS for Single Resources and Initial
Action Incidents ICS-300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding
Incidents ICS-400 Advanced Incident Command
21
22
Key Question 4
The NIMS online training is a great resource, however my district’s staff prefer in-person trainings. Is there a way to provide the training in person and still receive a certificate of completion from FEMA?
23
Key Question 4
FEMA makes NIMS course materials available for organizations to download and use in local training efforts
Grantees should ensure that trainers are certified to deliver the specified NIMS course
To receive a certificate, training participants must submit the course examination to FEMA FEMA Op-scan sheets Allow 6-8 weeks for certificate delivery
24
Key Question 5
Do I need to train everyone in my school district on NIMS?
25
Key Question 5
In a perfect world, yes! In reality, this may not be possible All staff, including substitutes, should have a
basic knowledge of school emergency procedures
Staff with specific responsibilities in responding to emergencies should have appropriate level of NIMS training
26
Key Question 6
Does my school district superintendent need to complete any NIMS courses? If so, which ones?
27
Key Question 6
FEMA recommends that all officials who will be interacting with multiple jurisdictions and agencies during an emergency incident have a basic understanding of NIMS
Recommended courses include (at a minimum): IS-100.SCa An Introduction to ICS IS-700.a NIMS, An Introduction
28
Key Question 7
We have an emergency management team already in place and have pre-established names for each job to be carried out in an emergency. Why do we need to change our current team to follow the Incident Command System?
29
Key Question 7
ICS is a fundamental form of management established in a standard format
ICS represents organizational "best practices" and has become the standard for emergency management across the country
ICS is flexible to meet varied needs during an emergency, but should not be changed to reflect local preferences (i.e., you should not change the structure established for ICS)
30
Key Question 8
My superintendent wants to be both the Incident Commander and the Public Information Officer in an emergency. Does this model work under ICS?
31
Key Question 8
No! Under ICS, each person has one role, not
multiple Each role under ICS has specific
responsibilities and require different skill sets The role of the Incident Commander (IC) is a
“full-time job” The Public Information Officer (PIO) may
need to be off-site at a Joint Information Center
32
Key Question 9
How is my district held accountable for being NIMS compliant? What should I do to demonstrate NIMS compliance?
33
Key Question 9
Assurance submitted with grant application Performance reports Site visits Documentation
Documentation of implementation progress (e.g., Checklist )
NIMSCAST
34
Key Question 10
What NIMS compliance resources are available for schools?
NIMS Resources for Schools
Readiness and Emergency Management For Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center
School Preparedness Website National Integration Center (NIC) Incident
Management Systems Integration Division (IMSID)
NIMS Resource Center Emergency Management Institute (EMI)
35